Sandoval says GOP will move forward

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Gov. Brian Sandoval says Republicans will move forward and work to improve voter outreach regardless of who is party chairman.

Sandoval commented Monday in Carson City, two days after his preferred candidate for party chairman was defeated in weekend balloting by the state central committee.

Robert Uithoven, a longtime GOP operative and lobbyist for billionaire Republican donor Sheldon Adelson, also was backed by other elected Republican officials. He lost to the incumbent chairman, Michael McDonald.

But Sandoval concedes Republicans have a lot of catching up to do if they want to gain ground on Democrats, who hold a 96,000 voter registration advantage in Nevada.

The governor says he has not talked to McDonald since he was re-elected party chairman Saturday in Las Vegas.